Atari 5200 Manual: Atari 5200 Owner's Manual (1983)(Atari)(US)[a][rev a]

ATARI

Owner's Manual

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Table of Contents

1. Your ATARI 5200 2

2. Installing the TV/Game Switch Box 3

3. Setting Up the Console 3

4. Inserting a Game Cartridge 4

5. Using the 5200 Controllers 5

6. Returning Your TV Set to Television Program Viewing 8

7. Maintaining Your ATARI 5200 8

8. Troubleshooting Checklist 10

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1. Your ATARI 5200

Congratulations on your purchase
of one of the most exciling video
game systems available. This
state-of-the-art system features:

• Arcade graphics and game play

• A full line of advanced software

• Modern sleek design

• Expandability to include;

TRAK-BALL ,M CONTROLLER
VCS Cartridge Adapter

We suggest you read this Owner's
Manual thoroughly before setting
up your ATARI 5200.

When you remove your ATARI
5200 from the box. you will have:

• 5200 Console Unit

• 5200 Game Cartridge
■ Two 5200 Controllers

• TV/Game Switch Box

• Power Adapter

Note: Your ATARI 5200 is pack-
aged with a protective coating. To
remove the plastic, simply peel
it off.

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2. Installing the TV/Game Switch Box.

Your TV/Game Switch Box allows
you to change from television
viewing to video game play and
back by simply sliding a switch.
The switch box is easy to install.
All you need is a screwdriver.

important: Use only the
TV/Game Switch Box packed with
your ATARI 5200. Use ot any other
switch box could damage the
5200 console.

Use the instructions in Section I
of the enclosed pamphlet if the
switch box packed with your ATARI
5200 Is plastic; use Section II if
the switch box is metal.

3. Setting Up the Console

1. Check the channel selector
switch at the back left side of
the console to be sure it is
set to the • position.

3.

Set your television channel
selector to Channel 3. If
Channel 3 is broadcasting in
your area, set the television
channel selector switch to
Channel 2 and change Ihe
channel selector switch on
the console unit to the ■
position-
Plug the Power Adapter cable
jack into the POWER connec-
tor at the back of the console.

Plug the Power Adapter into
any convenient 120-volt AC
electrical wall outlet.

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IMPORTANT: Use only Ihe Power
Adapter packed with your ATARI
5200. Use of any other power sup-
ply could damage Ihe console
unit.

5. Turn your television set on
and set the volume control
a comfortable level.

to

Press the POWER ON/OFF
switch at the lower right side
of the console to ON. A red
light (LEO) glows when the
POWER is ON.

7. If your television set has an
automatic fine-tuning control,
turn it off and manually fine-
tune for the best picture.
However, if your television sel
will not receive color unless
the automatic fine-tuning is
on, leave it on.

NOTE: Always turn the POWER
OFF when the game is not in use.

4. Inserting a Game Cartridge

1. Hold the game cartridge so
the name on the label faces
you and reads right-side-up.

2. Carefully insert the game car-
tridge into the slot at the
center of the console. Be sure
the cartridge fits firmly in the
slot but DO NOT FORCE IT.

3. Make sure the console
POWER is ON, A bright, color-
ful ATARI logo will appear on
your television screen, followed
by the game playfield.

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5. Using the 5200 Controllers

The ATARI 5200 includes two
5200 controllers. These con-
trollers allow you to move the
play pieces in any direction on
the screen — right, left, up, down,
and diagonally.

Plug the controllers into the
jacks at the front of the console
unit. Each jack is numbered. Use
jack 1 for one-player games; use
jacks i and 2 for two-player
games. The jack is designed to
fit only one way. Be sure the con-
nection is firm, but do not try to
force it.

Some controller functions vary
with different games. Be sure to
check the appropriate game in-
structions for different controller
functions.

Each controller has two fire but-
tons on either side. The lower
buttons are used as the fire but-
tons for all games. The upper
buttons are used for other func-
tions depending on the particular
game. See your game instructions
for different controller functions.

The right or the left buttons can
be used, whichever is more com-
fortable for you.

The START, PAUSE, and RESET
buttons on the controllers per-
form the following functions;

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|^/J;H Press START to begin

1 game play.

IJ^I.Mj Press PAUSE 10 slop all
game aclion. This
feature allows you to
leave the game without
interrupting the game or
score. Press pause
again when you are
ready to resume playing
the game.

RESET

Press RESET only when
you want to start the
game over from the
beginning.

These controller buttons
are used to select differ-
ent game options. Refer
to your game instruc-
tions for further details.

Keypad Overlays

Some game cartridges come with
two keypad overlays. The over-
lays fit directly over the keypad
buttons to indicate keypad func-

tions. These functions may vary
from game to game. Refer to
your game instructions for more
information.

When not in use, your keypad
overlays can be stored on the
back of your game cartridge.
Simply slip the tabs into the slots
that are provided on the cartridge.

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Controller Storage

When not in use. store

the 5200 controllers inside
the console unit as follows:

• Unplug the 5200 controllers
from the jacks at the front of
the console.

Wind the controller

cable around the joystick.
Open the controller storage
area at the top of the console.

Place the controllers face
down (head-to-head) in the
storage area.

Gently close the cover of the
controller storage area.

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6. Returning Your TV Set to Television Program Viewing

Press Ihe console POWER
switch OFF.

Change Ihe TV/Game switch
on the Switch Box to TV.

It you turned olf the automatic
tine-luning, turn it back on.

7. Maintaining Your ATARI 5200

Your ATARI 5200 will bring you
many years of enjoyment. To
keep it in good working condi-
tion, please remember the
following:

• Always turn the POWER
switch OFF when you are not
using the ATARI 5200.

• Do not try to force the game
cartridge into the cartridge
slot.

• Do not spill liquids on the con-
sole, cartridges, or controllers.

• Do not lift the 5200 console or
5200 controllers by the con-
necting wires. You could bend
or crimp the wires and break
the internal insulation.

• Be careful not to drop the con-
sole, controllers, or game
cartridges.

• Do not expose the console,
controllers, or game cartridges
to extreme or excessive heat.

• There are no user- serviceable
parts in your ATARI 5200 con-
sole, controllers, or cartridges.
Therefore, do not disassemble
or alter the console, con-
trollers, or cartridges.

• Do not use any power adapter
other than the Power Adapter
packed with your ATARI 5200.
You could damage the elec-
tronic components in the con-
sole unit.

• Unplug the Power Adapter
from the electrical outlet when
not in use.

• Do nol use any TV switch box
other than the TvVGame Switch
Box packed with your ATARI
5200. You could damage the
electronic components in the
console unit.

• Clean the exterior surface of
the console with a soft and
slightly damp cloth (use water
only).

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NOTE: Your ATARI 5200 is engi-
neered to eliminate phosphor
memory or "burn in" of the
playfielcl and score digits on
your television screen. We
suggest, however, these
precautions:

Turn down Ihe contrast of your
television set.

Turn the ATARI 5200 OFF
when not in use.

Compliance with FCC regulations

To comply with Federal Commu-
nications Commission* (FCC)
regulations, and to keep your
ATARI 5200 from interfering with
television reception on nearby
television sets, please observe the
following;

• Do not install a longer antenna
cable from the TV/Game Switch
Box to the antenna connection
on your television set. The
antenna cable supplied with the
TV/Game Switch Box is the cor*
reel length that complies with
FCC regulations.

• Do not connect the antenna
output cable on your TV/Game
Switch Box directly to any
television antenna or Cable TV
outlet.

• Do not attach loose wires to
your television antenna ter-
minals when you are using the
ATARI 5200.

1 This equipmenl generates and uses
radio frequency energy, and if tl Is not in*
stalled properly, it may cause interference
to radin and television reception It lias
been lype tested and lound to comply
witn ihe hm>ts for a Class B computing
device in accordance with Ihe specifica-
tions in Subpart J of part 15 oi FCC
Rules, which are designed to provide rea-
sonable protection against such Inter-
'erence in a residential installation. II this
equipmenl does cause interference lo
radio or television reception, which can
be determined by turning the equipment
oil and on, try to correct the interference
by one or inure of the following methods;

* Reorient the receiving antenna.

* Relocate the computer wrlh respect lo
the receiver.

* Move Ihe computer into a different
outlet so that the computer and
receiver are on different branch cir-
cuits.

It necessary, consuh the dealer or an ex*
perienced radloJietevlsion technician lor
additional suggestions. You may find the
following booKlet prepared by the Federal
Communications Commission helplui;
How to Identify ano Resolve RaaicTV
Inierterence Problems."

This booklet Is available from the U.S.
Government Printing Office, Washington.
DC 20^02. Stock No. 004 000003-15-4.

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8. Troubleshooting Checklist

The following list is supplied to
help you troubleshoot any pos-
sible problems in setting up your
ATARI 5200. Always disconnect
the Power Adapter before check-
ing any electrical connections.

Symptom

• Game picture and playfield are
fuzzy or the sounds are
distorted.

Probable Cause and Remedy

• TV/Game Switch Box nol cor-
rectly connected lo television
antenna.

• Television set not fine-luned
for the best picture. Make sure
the automatic fine-tuning is off
and manually fine-tune for the
best picture. However, il your
television receives color only
when the fine-tuning is on,
leave it on.

• Interference on Channel 3.
Change console channel selec-
tor switch to ■. and change
television channel selector to 2.

Symptom

• No game sounds.
Probable Cause and Remedy

• Turn up tne volume on your
television set.

Symptom

• ATARI logo and playlietd image
do not appear on the screen.

Probable Cause and Remedy

• Console POWER switch not ON.

• Game cable not properly
plugged into TV/Game Switch
Box.

■ Power jack not connected to
the console.

• TV/Game Switch Box nol cor-
rectly connected to television
antenna,

• Game cartridge nol properly
inserted.

• Power Adapter not plugged
into wail outlet.

• Interference on Channel 3,
Change console channel selec-
tor switch to ■ and change
television channel selector to 2.

Symptom

■ No regular television program
viewing.

Probable Cause and Remedy

• Television antenna not correctly
connected to TV/Game Switch
Box.

• TV/Game Switch Box set to
GAME. Change to TV.

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COIM 474 REV. A

ATARI 5

(TO A Wwnor Communication* Company

ATARI, INC., Consumer Division

1312 Crossman, P.O. Box 61657

Sunnyvale, CA 94086

ril083 ATARI. INC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Piinted in US.A.